128 PRACTICAL HISTOLOGY [XVI 



for a few minutes, transfer to a large slide, put a smaller slide on 

 the muscle to flatten it and examine with a low power. Note the 

 nerves separating and dividing, and forming numerous nerve- 

 endings. Cut out a part of the muscle where the nerve-endings 

 are most easily seen, and tease it slightly on a slide and mount 

 in formic glycerine. Note (h.p.) the curved hypolemmal branches 

 of the axis forming the end plate, (the number of branches varies 

 in different endings, there are commonly two main branches, each 

 with a number of side branches) ; the granular nucleated * sole.' 



The abdominal muscles of the rat or mouse may be similarly 

 treated. 



6. End plates. Snake. Take a piece, about an inch and a half 

 long, of a recently pithed snake. Cut through the skin in the 

 mid- ventral line. Cut through on one side the muscle attached 

 to the skin near the mid-ventral line, and pin out the skin. 

 Take the edge of the ribs in forceps, and pull the body gently 

 away from the skin and upwards. A series of small band-like 

 muscles will be seen passing from the body to the skin. Pin 

 back the body so that these muscles are stretched, carefully tear 

 away the tissue on either side of the muscles, isolating them up 

 to their connections at either end. Cut out the muscles and 

 treat them with dilute methylene blue, in the manner given in 



1- 



Isolate similarly the muscles of the opposite side up to their 

 origin and insertion ; arrange the pins so that they are well 

 stretched ; brush them with 1 p.c. gold chloride. In about 

 5 minutes, when the muscles have become stiff, cut quickly the 

 attachments, remove with a glass rod to gold chloride for about 

 | an hour. During this interval examine the muscles treated 

 with methylene blue, placing on a slide, and moistening them 

 with normal salt solution. Observe in the end plates, the curved 

 branches of the axis cylinder set closely together, the whole end 

 plate forming an oval or round patch. 



The muscles which were treated with gold chloride may now 

 be removed to water and washed thoroughly. Place in 25 p.c. 

 formic acid in the dark till next day. Wash and place in formic 

 glycerine, put under a dissecting lens, and tease off as much 



